State's Probate Court Administrator Submits Resignation

Probate court administrator James J. Lawlor, who has been locked in trench warfare with the state's small-town probate judges for years, has lost his battle. He submitted his resignation Monday in a heavily detailed, five-page letter that outlined his attempts to reform the state's 117 probate courts, which have been targets of criticism for their cronyism and uneven performance.

Lawlor, 65, made numerous enemies among the elected judges because he tried to enact sweeping reforms that included more rigorous training for judges and staff, more financial auditing, additional oversight from the central office, and consolidation that could have cost some judges their jobs. State officials who spoke on an agreement of anonymity said Lawlor had been forced out of his job, which pays nearly $150,000 a year. One state official who saw Lawlor over the weekend said, 'He looked like he got punched in the gut.' Lawlor declined to discuss the details behind his departure. 'I've always recognized the fact that I'm temporary,' he said Monday. 'It's not a permanent job.'

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Disgusting Newark, NJ	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #1 Jul 15, 2008 Judged: 4 3 2 Joseph Secola's comments and fight against higher standards for probate judges in Connecticut are beyond disgusting. I have personal knowledge of how the lack of knowledge and expertise in the law is draining the assets of two different estates - to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars. The cronyism, the lack of professionalism, the trolling for legal clients, lack of accountability is rampant - Secola's just protecting his own turf and blatant incompetence of the vast majority of our probate judges. It's quite stunning.
Jim AOL	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #2 Jul 15, 2008 Judged: 1 1 1 How else our all these 3rd rate lawyers gonna earn a living if they can't feed off the State Teet and Troll for clients. We can't change the system cause too many make a nice sweet living off it.
Jerry Glendale, CA	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #3 Jul 15, 2008 Judged: 1 I am sure that the people who forced Lawlor out will find someone that Rell will appointment that they can control. You would not want an honest ethical person as a probate judge. We cannot have that, god forebid we would not be able to keep our corrupt probate court system going. Good luck Judge Lawlor.
Jerry Glendale, CA	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #4 Jul 15, 2008 Judged: 1 If you have that information bring it to the Chief State's Attorneys office and aske for an investigation. Disgusting wrote: Joseph Secola's comments and fight against higher standards for probate judges in Connecticut are beyond disgusting. I have personal knowledge of how the lack of knowledge and expertise in the law is draining the assets of two different estates - to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars. The cronyism, the lack of professionalism, the trolling for legal clients, lack of accountability is rampant - Secola's just protecting his own turf and blatant incompetence of the vast majority of our probate judges. It's quite stunning.
Jerry Glendale, CA	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #5 Jul 15, 2008 Two corrections in my writings appointment and ask.
Say it aint so Hartford, CT	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #6 Jul 15, 2008 Judged: 1 1 1 All of these problems in the Probate system of the State of Corrupticut?? Say it ain't so. Hey, maybe we can get John Rowland to take over for Lawlor???!!!!!
Phillip H Inkel Salem, CT	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #7 Jul 15, 2008 hmm?
God Loves Me Winsted, CT	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #8 Jul 15, 2008 Judged: 1 1 1 Gee, nice how the power pigs just wave goodbye to this honorable man, and no changes are mandated. State gov't in CT sucks beyond all reason. But 77% of CT voters think all is well. So I guess we're screwed.

Knight Enterprise, AL	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #9 Jul 15, 2008 Too many set in their "old" ways, not flexible for "change", at the sacrifice of the citizens. Politics standing in the way of "helping" the people, seems it is all about "money", while destroying any chance of "reform".
willy lump lump Winsted, CT	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #10 Jul 15, 2008 Where is the Legislature? On vacation or asleep?
Phillip H Inkel “JUSTICE FOR ALL” Joined: Apr 13, 2008 Comments: 466 EAST HADDAM, CONNECTICUT ISP Location: Salem, CT	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #11 Jul 15, 2008 Jerry wrote: If you have that information bring it to the Chief State's Attorneys office and aske for an investigation.<quoted text> connecticut chief state's attorney kevin kane takes a see no, hear no, and speak no stance when it comes to judicial corruption and unlawful governmental conduct in connecticut. those who do complain of these matters in connecticut...watch out because certain public official can and will destroy your lives if you expose or attempt to expose their wicked ways.
Phillip H Inkel “JUSTICE FOR ALL” Joined: Apr 13, 2008 Comments: 466 EAST HADDAM, CONNECTICUT ISP Location: Salem, CT	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #12 Jul 15, 2008 report connecticut corruption, fraud, waste, and abuse of power to the investigative arm of congress at fraudnet.gao.gov
Phillip H Inkel “JUSTICE FOR ALL” Joined: Apr 13, 2008 Comments: 466 EAST HADDAM, CONNECTICUT ISP Location: Salem, CT	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #13 Jul 15, 2008 correction fraudnet@gao.gov
Publius West Hartford, CT	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #15 Jul 15, 2008 Judged: 1 Sounds like Judge Lawlor didn't get much support for his proposed reforms from the Governor, Legislature or Judiciary.
craig Meriden, CT	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #16 Jul 15, 2008 Judged: 3 1 1 because white heterosexual males are the only people worthy of this job?
checkers AOL	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #17 Jul 15, 2008 Rell can now appoint some dirty dog to do her work.
ANGEL Wallingford, CT	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #18 Jul 15, 2008 Its hits hard when we lose one of the good guys. Thank you James Lawlor for taking on the tough job all these years....and yeah they do beat you up......every chance they can get......its what bullies do. The question is why is it this bullying is ignored by the judicial system? In case no one can put it in context let me help....it is a model of bodies meeting in an old barn planning the next KKK attack......it should be against the law..........if you are not working through the proper channels on behalf of justice how is it bodies meeting in an old barn can form a group and try to enforce your own warped justice upon an individual trying to better the industry? ITS GANG BEHAVIOR.
ANGEL Wallingford, CT	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #21 Jul 15, 2008 Just so ya know, Judge Lawlor, I have had more success taking this "good ol boys club" apart from outside the system....and more fun too. And if you pick up a job that offers you autonomy....they can't touch ya and it drives them absoluelty insane..lol try it, after all these years I bet you could use a good laugh...
ANGEL Wallingford, CT	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #22 Jul 15, 2008 Judged: 1 here is a sharing... one week I spent my time dragging offenders and highlighting their offenses in front of the highest levels of authority and asking the offenders to explain themselves .... I DID IT BY EMAIL... THAT WAS A FUN WEEK.
question authority Hartford, CT	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #23 Jul 15, 2008 yes, money and POWER! just sickening Knight wrote: Too many set in their "old" ways, not flexible for "change", at the sacrifice of the citizens. Politics standing in the way of "helping" the people, seems it is all about "money", while destroying any chance of "reform".

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